SEVEN HILLS A major, longtime office space vacancy in the city has been filled.

In a special meeting Aug. 20, City Council unanimously approved an Economic Development Job Creation and Job Retention agreement with Sedgwick Claims, located at 5700 Lombardo Center. The company, which specializes in claims services including workers compensation, disability and liability, will move 249 employees from its Solon office to fill nearly 52,000 square feet of vacant office space in the Rock Run North building.

There are plans for an additional 34 employees by the end of 2015.

According to the approved agreement, Sedgwick Claims will receive a 50-percent income tax rebate the first five years of its 10-year lease, and a 25-percent grant award as a percentage of generated payroll taxes for years six through 10.

With approximately 10,000 employees in offices throughout the United States and Canada, Sedgwick Claims maintains a $9 million payroll, said Dean DePiero, former mayor of Parma and full-time lawyer at McDonald Hopkins, the law firm representing Sedgwick Claims. DePiero attended the Aug. 20 special council meeting and provided background information on Sedgwick Claims to Mayor Richard Dell’Aquila, council, officials and meeting attendees.

The company explored its options with a handful of municipalities, but chose Seven Hills for its proximity to the Rockside Road business district and various highways.

In other news from the special council meeting, members also unanimously approved establishing the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Safety and Justice Services, Office of Emergency Management, to be the city’s emergency management agency. The vote updates Seven Hills’ existing agreement and designates an agent for emergency management needs, Dell’Aquila said.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.